Control mechanism for power pressing machines



E. DAVIS 1,838,536

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR POWER PRESSING MACHINES Dec. 29, 1931.

Filed April 7. 1927 I I! VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS .Dec. 29, 1931. E. DAVIS CONTROL MECHANISM FOR POWER PRESSING HACHINES Filed April 7. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvumm W ,v BY

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MT BRNEYS III/ll .ment comes into Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST DAVIS, 01: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY INC, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CONTROL MECHANISM FOR POWER PRESSING: MACHINES Application filed April 7,

This invention relates to pressing machines, particularly to garment and laundry pressing machines in which the movable element is actuated by power and has for its obj ect a particularly simple and eflicient means by which the movable pressing element is relieved of its actuating force momentarily or long enough to expend most of its momentum when it reaches a predetermined position during its closing movement or before the movable element approaches its final closed position.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a pressing machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the relief valve and the shifter or automatic operating member therefor.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the I conduit system for controlling the operation of the fluid motor and of the-manual control for the motor, the mechanically operated parts being shown in section.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, in garment and laundry pressing machines which are operated by power, sufiicient power must be applied to the movable element or head when the press is open to overcome its inertia and start it in motion and that when once in motion, it gains momentum and comes into final pressing position with a jar or a slamming action.

This invention has for, its object, means by which the closing movement is retarded, stopped, or almost stopped after the press head is oncestarted in motion and preferably, just prior to the time that the movable elepressing engagement with the other element.

I have here illustrated my invention as embodied in a conventional type of garment or laundry press in which a press head 1 moves toward and from a stationary buck 2 mount- -the head on the front arm thereof.

1927. Serial No. 181,871.

ed on the frame 3 of the machine, the head 1 parts to the rear arm of the yoke lever 4 which is part of the mechanism for transferring the motion of the pinion to the head 1. The motion transmitting parts between the piston rod 8 and the yoke lever 4, as here illustrated, include a bell crank 9 pivoted at its angle at 10 to the frame and having one arm pivotally connected to the piston rod 8 and its other arm pivoted at 11 to a link 12 which in turn is pivoted to the rear arm of the yoke lever 4. A counterweight 13 is also mounted on the rear arm of the yoke lever 4 and also a couhterspring 14 is connected to said arm.

- The piston 7 is provided with a stem 70 projecting in advance thereof, and having a head 71 at its'end which closes or partly closes an intake port 72 in the intake end of the cylinder, the cylinder also has an addi tional intake port 73. The stem 7 O telescopes into the piston and the piston rod-8 against the action of a spring.

The motive fluid entering the cylinder first enters through the port 73'and but little of the motive fluid passes through the port 72. When, however, the piston has traveled far enou h to carry the head 71 away from the port 2, the motive fluid enters both ports 72, 73. During the in or up stroke of the piston, the head 71 again closes or partly closes the port 72 beforethe piston reaches the end of its stroke. i

The stem 70 telescopes into the passage 74 in the piston rod against the action of a spring 75.

The object of this feature is to prevent violent starting of the piston on its power stroke and to cushion the return stroke of the piston. This feature forms no part of this invention.

The piston may be actuated by any suitable motive fiuid but preferably compressed air is used and the air is conducted to the piston through a conduit system and is controlled by operator operated or manual control means to be presently described.

The machine in addition to the manual control means comprises automatically operated parts for momentarily relieving the movable element of the press head of force for actuating it as the head approaches its final closed position. The means by which the closing movement of the press or press head is retarded, just prior to the time that the head goes under final pressure consists of an automatic control or relief member, that is, a member normally in operative position and shiftable out of operative position by the closing movement of the head l. This member is here shown as a normally closed'spring pressed valve 15 located in thevalve casing 16 which is connected by a pipe 17 in the conduit system which controls the flow of air to and from the cylinder 6. The valve casing is provided an outlet 18. The valve 15 is moved out of its normal position or opened against the action of its spring 15* by a shifter which is connected to the actuating mechanism or some part which partakes of the movement of the head 1.- This shifter is here shown as a lever 19 pivoted at 20 to the frame of the machine and as having a cam which coacts with the valve or with a follower 21 which contacts with the end of the valve stem 22 of the valve 15. The cam has a portion concentric with the pivot 20 of the shifter 19 and a point or lift portion 24 and also a drop portion 25. Normally, or when the head is up to its full extent, the follower 2l'rides on the concentric portion of the cam and when the head approaches its closed position, the lift portion 24 engages the follower 21 and momentarily opens the valve 15 permitting the air to exhaust from the conduit system which supplies air to the cylinder 6 so that the actuation of the piston 7 is momentarily retarded and hence, the movement of the head momentarily retarded until the momentum thereof is nearly expended. While the momentum is being expended, the point or lift portion 24 of the cam passes out of engagementwith the follower 21 and the follower then engages the drop portion 25 so that the valve 15 is free to close under the pressure of its spring 15 orthe air pressure behind the valve and the air again flowsto the cylinder to actuate the piston to apply final pressure to the head 1.

The lever or shifter 19 is'here shown as connected to the yoke lever 4 by means of a link 26. This link is adjustable endwise by means of a turn buckle 27 and also the point of connection between the link and the lever 19 is adjustable relatively to the axis of the lever 19, the lever being shown as provided with a plurality of holes 28 in any one of which the pivot 29 at the lower end of the link 26 can be placed in order to lengthen or shorten the effectivelength of the lever arm 19.

The conduit system for supplying and controlling the supply of air to and from the cylinder may be of any suitable form, size and construction, and the particular construction forms no part of this invention.

This conduit system includes a feed pipe 31 connected to any suitable source of supply, a valve casing 32 to which said pipe 31 is connected, a combined intake and exhaust valve in the casing, a pipe 33 connecting the casing and the cylinder 6, and manually controlled means for operating said combined intake and exhaust valve and holding it in its operated position. The combined intake and exhaust valve in the casing 32 comprises a normally closed intake valve 34 and a normally open exhaust valve 35 connected by a stem 36 so that said valves act as a unit, the valves being pressed to their normal position by a suitable spring 37. The pipe 33 connects with the casing 32 between the valves 34 and 35. The valve 34 is opened against the action of its spring 37 by a lever 38 pivoted at 39 to a bracket on the valve casing 32, the lever having three arms, one of which acts on the end of the stem 40 of the exhaust valve 35. This lever 38 is actuated by a fluid operated motbr as a diaphragm 41 located in the diaphragm chamber 42 and acting against the end of a rod 43 which in turn acts upon a second arm of the three arm lever 38. This rod 43 has a spring 44 which normally tends to resist actuation thereof by the diaphragm 41. The diaphragm 41 is actuated by air from the feed line 31 and controlled by a manually operated valve. The manually operated valve includes a casing 45 which contains intake and exhaust valves 46 and 47, connected by a stem 48, these valves being pressed to their normal position by a spring 49 and being operable manually by a member, as a push button or slide 50, suitably guided in the frame of the valve casing and acting through levers 51 ,and 52 against the end of the stem 53 of the exhaust valve 47.

The intake end of the valve casing 45 is connected by a pipe 54 to the intake pipe 31 and this casing 45 is connected from between the intake and exhaust valves 46 and 47 to the diaphragm chamber 42 by a pipe 55. Upon depressing of the button 50, the intake valve 46 will be opened and the exhaust valve 47 closed, permitting air to flow from the main line 31 through the pipe 54, casing 45 and pipe 55 to the diaphragm chamber 2 where it actuates the diaphragm 41 and hence the rod 43 and the three arm lever 38 to close the exhaust valve 35 and open the intake valve 34. WVhen the intake valve 34 is thus opened air will pass from the main line 31, through valve casing 32, and pipe 33 to the cylinder 6 and actuate the piston 7 and hence,

actuate the press head from its wide open position toward closed position.

Before the piston has completed its out stroke, the head has moved into nearly closed position or into the position shown in Figure l where the cam lever or shifter 19- has been moved sufliciently to bring the cam point 24 into engagement with the follower 21 to momentarily open the relief valve 15, the valve casing of which is connected by the pipes 17 and 55 to the valve casing 45. When this relief valve 15 is momentarily open, the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 42 is momentarily relieved or released so that the intake valve 34 in the casing 32 is free to close or partly close and the exhaust valve to partly open, thus relieving the pressure momentarily in the cylinder 6 so that the air will exhaust momentarily back through the pipe 33, valve casing 32 and out through the exhaust passage 35*. By this momentary opening of the relief valve 15, the momentum of the head is checked but the momentum carries the head far enough to cause the point 24 of the cam lever to clear the follower 21 so that the relief valve is free to be closed by its spring. When it is so closed, assuming that the operator continues to hold down the button 50, the pressure in the diaphragm,-

chamber 42 is again restored to its full extent and hence, the intake valve 34 in the easing 32 opened and the exhaust valve 35 closed and the air free 'to flow with full effect through the pipe 33 into the cylinder to apply final pressure.

The combined intake and exhaust valves 34, 35 are held in their operated position any length of time desired by the operator after the press is finally closed, by a motiye fluid operated means which in this embodiment of my invention is operated from the back pressure' in the cyinder 6. This means is here shown as a diaphragm 56 located in a diaphragm chamber 57 carried by the valve casing 32, the diaphragm 56 acting upon a sliding stem or rod 58 which in turn acts upon the third arm of the lever 38. The diaphragm chamber 57 is connected by a pipe 59 to .a port 60 communicating with the'cylinder and located to be uncovered by the piston as the piston reaches the end of its power stroke. Obviously, when the port 60 is'uncovered, the air will pass through the pipe 59 to the diaphragm chamber 57 and actuate the diaphragm 56 to press the rod or stem 58 against the lever 38 and thus hold the intake and exhaust valves 34 and 35 in their operated position.

To open the press, the air is exhausted from the diaphragm chamber 57 and this result is effected by a manually operable and normally closed exhaust valve 61 located in a valve casing 62 which is connected by a pipe 63 to the pipe 59. The exhaust valve is pressed by a spring to its closed position and is opened against the action of its spring 61 by a lever 64 acting on the end of the valve stem of the exhaust valve 61. The valve casing 62 is supportedby the casing and the lever 64 is arranged close to the button so as to be readily operated by the hand used to depress the button 50. Obviously, upon opening of the exhaust valve 61, the air will be exhausted from the pressure side of the diaphragm 56 in the chamber 57 permitting the spring 37 to close the intake valve 34 in the casing 32 and open the exhaust valve 35 thus, permitting the air to exhaust from the cylinder 6 so that the press will open under the influence of its counterweight 13 and counterspring 14. At this time, there is no pressure in the diaphragm chamber 42 as the same was exhausted therefrom through the pipe when the operator released his hold on the button 50.

In order that both hands of the operator will be required to close the press, a second push button operated valve is employed, consisting of a normally open exhaust valve 65 located in a valve casing 66 which is connected by a pipe 67 to the pipe 55, this valve 65 being pressed to its open position by 'a spring 68 and being5operated by a push button 69, the motion of which is transferred through levers 7 O and 71 to a stem 72 of the valve 65. Obviously, if the-push button 50 is operated, the air passing from the main line 31 through thepipe 54, valve casing 45 and pipe 55 will exhaust out through the pipe 67 and normally ,open exhaust valve passage 65 unless the valve 65 is held'closed bythe operator holding down the button 69. Thus, two hands are required to close the press. Neither the two hand control nor the construction of the various valves and diaphragm motors constitute part of the invention.

In operation, the operator after arranging the work on the buck 2, presses both buttons 50 and 69 whereupon the air is free to pass from the main line 31 to the cylinder 6. As the piston approaches the end of its out throw or the head comes down toward closed position, the cam lever or shifter 19 is actuated to open the relief valve 15 thus cutting off the power momentarily from the main feed line 31 through the valve casing 32 and pipe 33 to the cylinder 6. Afterthe lift portion 24 of the cam of the shifter lever 19 clears or passes the follower 21 which actuates the relief valve 15, the air is free to pass with full effect to the cylinder 6 and when the piston passes to the end of its power stroke and, uncovers the port 60, the intake valve 34 in the casing 32 is held open and the exhaust valve 35 held closed by the back pressure in the cylinder through the port 60, pipe 59 and diaphragm chamber 57.

To open the press, the exhaust valve 61 is opened by operating the handle 64 thus permitting the air to exhaust from the diaphragm chamber 57.

Although my invention is shown as applied to a press which is actuated by a cylinder and a piston obviously, it is adaptable to any other motor means or mechanism withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention which lies in the momentary relieving of the effective application of the power to the press head when the press head approaches its closed position in order that the momentum of the head may be nearly expended before final pressure is applied.

What I claim is.

1. A pressing machine including cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, operator controlled power means for actuating the movable element to close the press including mechanism for momentarily relieving the movable element of the force tending to close it when the movable element approaches final closed position.

2. A pressing machine including cooperating pressing elements, one'of which is movable toward and from the other, mechanism for actuating the movable element including a motor, means for controlling the actuation of the movable element by the motor and means controlled by the movement of the movable element to momentarily relieve the movable element of the power of the motor as said element approaches final closed position.

3. A pressing machine including cooper ating pressing elements, one of which is movable'toward and from the other, operator controlled mechanism for actuating the movable element to close the press including a motor and automatic means controlled by the movable element to momentarily retard the motor as the movable element approaches fl-nal closed position.

4. A pressing machineincluding cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element including a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder and motion transmitting parts connecting the piston rod and the movable element, operator controlled means for supplying motive fluid to the cylinder, and automatic means for momentarily cutting off the motive fluid to the cylinder as the movable element approaches its final pressing position.

5. A pressing machine including cooper ating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element includ ing a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder and motion transmitting parts connecting the. piston with the movable element, a conduit system for a motive fluid, operator controlled means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinder through controlled means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinder through said system, a normally closed relief valve in said conduit system, a timing cam coacting with said relief valve to open it, and connec tions between the timing cam and one of said parts to operate said cam when the movable element reaches a predetermined position in its closing movement.

7. A pressing machine including a frame,

a buck mounted on the frame, a head movable toward and from the buck, power mechanism for actuatingthe head to close the press including a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting parts between the piston and the head including a lever pivoted to the frame and carrying the head, a conduit system for supplying motive fluid to the cylinder, manual means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder, a normally closed relief valve connected in said system and means for momentarily opening said valve when the press head reaches a predetermined position durin the closing of the press, an operating mem er for said valve and connections between the operating member and one of said motion transmitting parts.

8. A pressing machine including a frame, a buck carried on the frame, a head movable toward and from the buck, fluid operated mechanism comprising a lever pivoted to the frame and carrying the head, a conduit system for the fluid operated mechanism, operator controlled means for controlling the flow of fluid through said system, a shiftable normally closed relief valve insaid system, a shifter carried by the frame having means for momentarily opening the relief valve during the closing of the press, and means connecting the shifter and said lever.

9. A pressing machine including cooperating pressing'elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; operator controlled mechanism for actuating the movable element; means to retard the closing movement of the movable element toward the'other element including an automatic control member normally ineffective to retardthe movement of the movable element; and a shifter connected to the movable element to be actuated thereby and coacting with said control member to momentarily render the same operative to retard the movement of the movable element into pressing position.

10. A pressing machine including cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable-toward and from the other; operator controlled mechanism for actuating the movable element; means to retard the closing movement of the movable element toward the other element; an automatic control member, for the retarding means, normally ineffective to retard the movement of the movable element; and a shifter connected to the movable element to be actuated thereby including means coacting with the control member to shift the control member to render the same operative, during an intermediate ortion of the closing movement of the mova le element, to retard the movement of the movable element into pressing position.

11. A pressing machine including cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; operator controlled mechanism for actuatin the movable element; means to retard t e closing movement of the movable element toward the other element; an automatic control member, for the retarding means, normally ineffective to retard the movement of the movable element; and a shifter including a cam ooacting' with the control member and having an active portion arranged to shift said control member out of and into position in which said control member is operated to retard the movement of the movable element during closing movement of the press and means for transferring the movement of the movable element to said shifter. i

12. A pressing machine including a buck; a head movable toward and from the buck; power actuated mechanism connected to the head to actuate it comprising movable parts including a lever carrying the head and operator-operated means for controlling the operation of the actuating mechanism, the

actuating mechanism including means to retard the closing movement of the movable element toward the other element; a shiftable control member for the retarding means normally ineffective to retard the movement of the movable element; a shifter coacting with the control member; and connections between the shifter and one of said movable parts for' actuating the shifter during the movement of said parts.

13. A. pressing machine including a buck; a head movable toward and from the buck; power actuated mechanism connected to-the head to actuate it comprising movable parts includinga lever carrying the head and operator-operated means for controlling the opeation of the actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism including means to retard the closing movement of the movable element toward the other element; a shiftable control member for the retarding means normally ineffective to retard the movement of the movable element; a shifter coacting with the control member to move the same into and out of position in which said control member is operated to retard the movement of the movable element; andconnections beilzlween the shifter and the lever carrying the ead.

14. A pressing machine including a frame; a buck mounted on the frame; a head movable toward and from the buck; power actuated mechanism connected to the head to actuate it including movable parts, one of which is a lever pivoted to the frame and carrying the head; operator-operated means for controlling the operation of the actuating mechanism; means for retarding the closing movement of the movable element toward the other element; a shiftable control member for the retarding means normally ineffective to retard the movement of the movable element; a shifter lever pivoted to the frame and having cam points for coacting with the control member; and connections between the ihifjer lever and the lever carrying the press 15. A pressing machine including in combination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other to open and close the press; operator controlled mechanism for actuating the movable element to close the press including a motor; and automatic means controlled by the movable element to momentarily retard the motor as the movable element approaches final closed position including means to render the retarding means ineffective before completion of the closing movement of the press.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and in the State of New York, this 12th day of March, 1927.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

